Where Is the Cast of 1982’s ‘Annie’ Now?
What To Know
- The main cast of the 1982 film Annie have taken diverse paths, with Aileen Quinn leaving Hollywood for a career in teaching, theater, and music, now fronting her own band.
- Tim Curry, who played Rooster Hannigan, remains active with fans and recently released a memoir despite health challenges, while Carol Burnett continues to earn acclaim for her recent TV work, including Palm Royale.
- Bernadette Peters has maintained her status as a Broadway star, performing in major productions and concerts, including a 2025 appearance in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends.
The second season of Carol Burnett‘s Palm Royale premieres on November 13, 2025. The show is Burnett’s first steady role on the small screen in several decades, giving us the perfect reason to look back at the rest of her outstanding body of work — including her iconic turn as Miss Hannigan in the 1982 film adaptation of Annie.
When Annie hit theaters on June 18, 1982, audiences fell in love with the red-haired orphan who sang her way into Daddy Warbucks’ heart. The film of the beloved comic strip-turned-Broadway show featured stars such as Burnett, Tim Curry, Albert Finney and Bernadette Peters. It also introduced audiences to a brand-new talent in the title role, Aileen Quinn, who played the adorable orphan Annie. More than four decades later, the cast of Annie has taken very different paths, with some staying in the spotlight and others moving into quieter lives. Here’s where they are now.
Aileen Quinn (54)
Annie
Everett Collection; Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Aileen Quinn was just 10 years old when she was chosen from thousands of hopefuls to play Annie, a role that instantly made her famous. Despite the film’s success, her movie career was brief. She appeared in a few projects in the 1980s, but by the time she was 18, she decided to step back from Hollywood.
Instead, Quinn went to college and graduated from Drew University with a degree in languages. She built a life in teaching, performing regional theater and eventually, making music. Today, she fronts her own rockabilly band, Aileen Quinn and the Leapin’ Lizards, and still delights fans at screenings and special events.
Tim Curry (79)
Rooster Hannigan
Columbia Pictures/Everett Collection; Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Tim Curry was already well-known from his starring role in 1975’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show when he took on the role of Rooster, Miss Hannigan’s scheming younger brother. But the part pushed him into the mainstream, making him a favorite in both family films like Muppet Treasure Island and more mature works like Clue and Legend.
In 2012, Curry suffered a major stroke, which left him using a wheelchair and some difficulties speaking, but he has continued to stay connected with fans. He appears at Rocky Horror Picture Show anniversary events and recently released his memoir, Vagabond, in 2025.
Carol Burnett (92)
Miss Hannigan
Columbia Pictures/Everett Collection; JC Olivera/Getty Images
Comedy legend Carol Burnett had already made history with The Carol Burnett Show by the time she joined Annie as the villainous Miss Hannigan, the head mistress of the orphanage and a frequent antagonist of the girls. She is still working and recently earned praise for her role in Apple TV+’s Palm Royale. She also celebrated her milestone birthday a few years ago with an NBC special, Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love, which won an Emmy.
Bernadette Peters (77)
Lily St. Regis
Columbia Pictures/Everett Collection; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for FLC
Bernadette Peters was a Broadway star before taking on the role of the dithering Lily St. Regis, Rooster’s girlfriend in Annie, and she remains one today, starring in productions like Follies, A Little Night Music, Gypsy and Hello, Dolly! In 2025, she starred in the Broadway revue Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends alongside Lea Salonga, a production that had premiered in London before making its way to New York. Peters also continues to perform concerts around the country and internationally, including scheduled appearances at festivals in 2025.
Toni Ann Gisondi (50)
Molly
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The youngest orphan in the film, Toni Ann Gisondi captured hearts as Molly. She was only six when the movie was made and was even nominated for a Young Artist Award. After that, she made one television movie appearance but decided not to continue acting.
Today, Gisondi lives in New Jersey, where she has focused on her family and private life. She has two daughters and occasionally reconnects with her Annie past at fan events, maintaining a strong connection with her early career.
Rosanne Sorrentino (57)
Pepper
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Rosanne Sorrentino had already played Annie on stage in the national tour before she was cast as Pepper in the film. Unlike her co-stars, she never pursued a Hollywood career. Instead, she chose education and became an assistant principal on Long Island. Sorrentino has spoken fondly of her time in the film and sometimes appears at fan conventions.
In Memoriam
Everett Collection
Albert Finney (1936–2019)
Daddy Warbucks
After Annie, Albert Finney starred in acclaimed films like Erin Brockovich and Big Fish. He died from a chest infection on February 7, 2019, at age 82.
Ann Reinking (1949–2020)
Grace Farrell
Ann Reinking returned to Broadway and became a celebrated choreographer, primarily known for her work on Chicago. She died in her sleep while visiting family in Seattle on December 12, 2020, at age 71.
Geoffrey Holder (1930–2014)
Punjab
Geoffrey Holder continued working as a dancer, choreographer, and artist, as well as acting in film and theater. He died from complications of pneumonia on October 5, 2014, at age 84.
Edward Herrmann (1943–2014)
President Roosevelt
Edward Herrmann remained a prolific actor, appearing in film, television, and on stage, including his beloved role in Gilmore Girls. He died from brain cancer on December 31, 2014, at age 71.
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Where Are They Now? Music Legends
July/August 2025
They rocked and rolled us, they shredded, they head-slammed and they crooned, but what happened to them and where are they now?
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